Turkey- Part 2: Izmir

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2015

We drove from Ankara to Izmir. We stopped at a gas station restaurant for breakfast. We were not communicating well and they didn't have a menu. So Josh told them as best he could that we wanted some bread and eggs. We got quite a spread. Some of the best food we had in Turkey. We had fresh, hot flat bread, a bowl of melted cheese, several different types of eggs, cheese, olives, tomatoes, and sausage. It was really good. They sold little souvenirs there too and gave Hannah and Hyrum each a small pillow. We made lots of short stops so the kids could stretch their legs. 

We got to Izmir about 5 PM. We checked into our hotel. Went to the pool and had a late dinner at McDonald's. Hyrum liked his hamburger.   

 Thursday, April 23rd

We went and saw some ruins in Izmir. 

 The kids enjoyed running around the field. 

 It was pretty small and not as cool as Jordan's ruins. 

The boys found a dolls head. They had fun floating in in the water.

 

Hyrum

Joseph playing dolls! 

 The kids enjoyed the water.

 Hyrum found a seat.

Hannah playing. 

Boys playing soccer with the creepy doll head.

 

Back in the car.

 

Hyrum got a new toy. Thanks boys!

We rode a ferry across the gulf. It was about a 15-20 minute ride for a whole $2 for our entire family. 

It was pretty chilly.

Hannah 

 Joshua

This is what the ferry looked like. 

On the other side we ate at a KFC's. American food is great.  

 We got an ice cream I think everyday we were in Turkey. At McDonalds they were only about $0.30. The kids loved it!

 We walked around a bit and headed back to the ferry. 

When we got back to the hotel, we went swimming. It had a great indoor pool, huge out door pool, and 2 big Jacuzzi.  The only downside was that we had to wear swim caps. 

 I thought the kids looked pretty cute in their swim caps.

How does she make a swim cap look so cute?! 

 Hyrum

Joshua under water. 

 Hyrum would jump off the step and then cry until we brought him back.

Hyrum in his cap. 

 Love this goofy girl!

 Katie girl!

Everyone sitting in the Jacuzzi. It was so beautiful there. 

 Joshua warming up.

I loved Joseph in his cap! 

Michael's cap scrunched up his eyes! 

Joshua in the big pool. The dome behind him is the indoor pool. 

Michael learning how to swim. 

Hyrum trying to get out of the baby pool. 

Hannah can go under water! She was so proud. 

Michael learned how to swim. 

 1...2...3... go!

My underwater baby girl! 

 Joseph the cool dude underwater!

Crazy little boy!! 

Friday, April 24th

We had a small church service in our hotel room in the morning. Then we drove to Ephesus. We made a wrong turn and drove up to a small town in the mountains. It was such a cute town. We walked around the streets. We got some fresh squeezed pomegranate juice. 

 Katie got a flower crown.

 Exploring the town.

We stopped at this little restaurant for lunch. They had "pancakes" with cheese in them. We figured our kids wouldn't like them stuffed and asked for one plain. They said we needed something so they made it with honey. It was a paper thin bread, drizzled with honey, folded up, and baked. It was very good. It was so fun to watch her make them. 

We also got some chicken. It's so hard to find food that the kids will eat. I was glad they liked it.  

 We had to have ice cream after lunch. 

Yummy! 

The Joseph and Joshua got sling shots. Michael picked a sword. We had to practice! 

We stopped by a castle on our way to Ephesus. The kids found a tortoise. They were sad I said they couldn't keep it. 

Kids playing on the ruins. 

Michael 

 The castle was on a hill. The view was very pretty.

Headed up to the castle. 

Lots of farm land. 

I thought these were really cool flowers. 

 More cool plants.

Joseph in the castle. 

 Hannah owning the castle.

 Playing and collecting rocks.

Joseph standing guard. 

Family picture!  

Inside one of the buildings in the castle. 

 What did they find?

 Dinner! Giant, dead cockroach.

Everyone needed to go to the bathroom when we got back to the car. Bathrooms are a place of business here. You have to pay to use them. This was the fanciest bathroom we ever used. Katie and I had a good laugh when we walked in. Cd's glued to the wall, fake flowers everywhere. 

Even a fish tank on the counter!

 You really never know what you're getting yourself into when you walk into a bathroom! 

 We finally made it to Ephesus!

 Sadly the kids were mostly done before we even got started. 

Michael at the theater.

 Katie exploring the theater. 

 Hannah and Michael ready to go through the tunnel. 

 Hannah was sleeping on Josh.

Joseph was making sure we were well aware that he was done.  

 Katie, Joshua, and Michael had endless energy.

 We explored while Josh sat with Hannah, Hyrum, and Joseph.

Katie falling. 

Tired kids resting. 

Rocks make good pillows. 

Ready to go. 

We got back to the car and realized we missed a whole huge section there. The kids didn't have any energy left.  

Silly boy on the ride back.

 

Saturday, April 25th

We went to the zoo. It only cost $2 to get to all 8 of us in. All the kids got a free shirt too.

We saw tigers. 

Lions 

All my kids really like tortoises right now. 

Katie found a huge leaf! 

 Hannah taking a short break.

 What's that?

 Two funny monkeys and a dead hedge hog maybe. The monkeys really wanted it, but it was on the other side of the eclectic fence. Eventually one of the monkeys touched the wire, got shocked, jumped high into the air, and ran a little ways off. It eventually came back over and showed it's little hand to it's friend. It was pretty funny.

More tortoises.  The kids stayed here for a long time. 

After the zoo we went back to the hotel to swim some more. Trying to feed 6 picky, little eaters in a foreign country is hard. 

Sunday April 26th

Josh took the kids to play at the park at the hotel while I repacked our bags. Then we loaded the car and headed back to Istanbul.